HELPING FAMILIES RAISE HEALTHY, CONFIDENT EATERS
No food battles. No restriction. Our pediatric dietitians in Amherst help children and teens develop a healthy relationship with food that lasts a lifetime—using intuitive eating and a weight-inclusive approach.
Pediatric nutrition that honors growing bodies
Weight-inclusive, family-centered support for the Pioneer Valley
Intuitive Eating & HAES® Framework
We use intuitive eating and Health At Every Size® principles to help kids trust their bodies, develop healthy eating habits, and build positive body image—without dieting or restriction.
Family-Centered Approach
We work with the whole family to create a peaceful feeding environment, address picky eating without pressure, and help parents let go of diet culture while raising confident eaters.
Age-Appropriate Support
From toddlers to teens, we tailor our approach to your child's developmental stage, addressing everything from selective eating to sports nutrition to navigating peer pressure around food and bodies.
Insurance Accepted
Most major insurance plans cover pediatric nutrition counseling. We'll help you navigate your benefits so your child can get the support they deserve.
All bodies are good bodies.
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM AMANDA MITTMAN,
Registered Dietitian and founder of Happy Valley Nutrition
WE TAKE INSURANCE
Coverage depends on individual plans and benefits.
Pediatric nutrition counseling is covered by most insurance plans in Massachusetts. We believe all Amherst families deserve access to weight-inclusive nutrition support for their children.
Contact us to learn how and for any specific questions for using insurance to cover visits.
We do not accept MassHealth or Tufts Public/Direct plans as they do not credential private practice dietitians. We offer out of pocket rates for these clients.
While we do accept Medicare plans for nutrition counseling, only Diabetes (not “prediabetes”) and kidney disease are covered.
HOW WE HELP KIDS, TEENS & FAMILIES
Picky and Selective Eating
Picky eating is common in childhood, but it can be stressful for parents. We help you understand the difference between typical picky eating and a bigger concern, create low-pressure meal environments that encourage exploration, expand your child's food repertoire without forcing or bribing, reduce mealtime battles and stress for the whole family, and address sensory issues or feeding disorders if present.
Sports Nutrition for Young Athletes
Young athletes need proper fueling for growth, development, AND performance. Our approach includes adequate nutrition to support both athletic demands and normal growth, teaching teens to fuel their bodies without restriction or diet mentality, preventing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), hydration and recovery strategies, and body image support in sports culture. We help athletes perform their best while developing a healthy relationship with food and their changing bodies.
Body Image & Puberty Support
Puberty brings normal, necessary body changes that can be confusing or distressing in our appearance-focused culture. We provide support for navigating body changes with compassion, challenging diet culture and weight stigma messages, developing body respect and appreciation, addressing peer pressure around food, dieting, and appearance, and supporting teens who may be struggling with disordered eating patterns. Every teen deserves to feel comfortable in their developing body.
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Children with health conditions deserve nutrition support that doesn't add food stress or body shame. We help with diabetes management without restriction, GI issues like constipation, reflux, or IBS, food allergies and intolerances, ADHD and nutrition support, and other pediatric health conditions. We integrate medical nutrition needs with intuitive eating principles to support both health and a positive relationship with food.
We don’t put kids on diets.
Children and teens are still growing—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Restriction, dieting, and weight focus during these critical years can cause lasting harm to their relationship with food, their body image, and their physical and mental health.
At Happy Valley Nutrition, we believe every child deserves to eat without shame, grow according to their body's natural blueprint, and develop confidence in their body's signals. We reject the idea that certain body sizes are better than others, and we refuse to contribute to the diet culture messaging that harms kids.
Our weight-inclusive approach helps children develop internal regulation—learning to recognize hunger and fullness, choosing foods that feel good, and trusting their bodies. We support normal growth and development, address health concerns when present, and help families create peaceful, positive relationships with food.
We also support parents in unlearning their own diet culture beliefs, setting boundaries with relatives who comment on kids' bodies or eating, and creating home environments where all foods fit and all bodies are respected.
Your child doesn't need to be fixed. They need to be supported in becoming a competent, confident eater who trusts their body.
HOW IT WORKS
Step 1
LET’S TALK
The first step can feel like the hardest and we totally get that.
We'll begin with a free clarity call where you get a chance to tell us all about your child and family! We'll discuss your concerns, your child's eating and growth, and what type of support will best suit your family.
Don’t want the call? No problem- we can just book an initial appointment!
Step 2
LET’S WORK
During your first session, we'll complete a comprehensive nutrition and feeding assessment, discuss your family's goals, and begin building your personalized plan.
During the session we’ll create a plan that best suits you and discuss the ideal ways we can support you until our next appointment.
Step 3
LET’S GO
Raising confident, healthy eaters is a journey—we're committed for the long haul.
Supporting your child's relationship with food and body is a life-long journey that is equal parts amazing, inspiring, and honestly...sometimes downright terrifying.
It takes bravery, dedication and sometimes a little audacity to get where you want to go.
Nutrition counseling services can be done in-person (Amherst office) or via Telehealth.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NUTRITION SUPPORT FOR KIDS & TEENS
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At the present time, we are preferred providers with Aetna, BCBS, Medicare, Mass General Brigham/MGB (no ACO plans), GIC Unicare, Wellpoint, Cigna, Health New England, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and Tufts (commercial plan only). Medicare only covers the visit if you have diabetes or renal disease. We do not accept MassHealth. Please note that each plan is different and nutrition benefits can vary and we often need a referral on file. Please contact our client coordinator at hello@happyvalleynutrition.com for any specific questions.
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We offer out of pocket and sliding scale rates as necessary. We will always work with you to try to get sessions covered!
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We ask that you verify your insurance benefits with our handy script to use. Also, complete all paperwork no later than 24 hours before your initial appt (intake form, etc) so that your RD can be best prepared for appointment. We send gentle reminders!
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Yes! We often can see clients via telehealth for clients outside of MA, but it does depend on the state that you live in during the time of the call. Please send us an email to hello@happyvalleynutrition.com to inquire specifically.
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Yes, we absolutely do and would love to support you or a loved one.
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Most families work with us for 3-6 months initially to establish new feeding patterns and see positive changes. Some continue with occasional check-ins as their child grows. The timeline depends on your family's goals and your child's needs.
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No. We don't put children or teens on weight loss diets—research shows this causes more harm than good. Instead, we focus on supporting healthy behaviors, addressing any underlying health concerns, and helping your child develop a positive relationship with food and their body.
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We regularly work with children managing health conditions. We integrate medical nutrition needs with intuitive eating principles so your child can manage their health without developing food fear or disordered eating patterns.
Ready to raise a confident eater?
If you're searching for a dietitian in Amherst, MA who uses a weight-inclusive, intuitive eating approach, you've found expert support. Let's talk about how evidence-based nutrition counseling can help your child or teen develop confidence, health, and food freedom right here in the Pioneer Valley.